ORLANDO, Fla. — The lone debate in the Florida governor’s race could be Charlie Crist’s last real chance to pull ahead against Gov. Ron DeSantis, experts said, with polls continually giving DeSantis the lead. And Crist has to hit hard against an incumbent playing it safe, they added.
“DeSantis’ goal is to not hurt himself in any way,” said Mac Stipanovich, a Tallahassee consultant and former anti-Trump Republican-turned-independent. “His goal is to get out without making a mistake or getting mauled. Charlie’s goal is for DeSantis to make a mistake, and then maul him.”
The debate between Republican DeSantis and Crist, a former Democratic U.S. House member and GOP governor from 2007-11, is set for Monday night at 7 p.m. It will be hosted by WPEC-CBS12 at the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce. It will be aired live on 10 stations across the state, including WFTV-TV Channel 9 in Orlando.
